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When folks talk about how God works and how 'he will provide', I tell them this little story: A devout man lived in a flood-prone area, and all reports indicated a big flood was headed his way. The news reports were all abuzz, and people were encouraged to evacuate. As his neighbors prepared to leave and urged him to do the same, he replied 'I trust God to protect me'. Soon the rain started, and the floodwaters began to rise. Officers patrolled the streets urging stragglers to leave, but still the man said 'God will take care of me'. The floodwaters kept rising, and soon he was on his roof. Rescuers came by in boats, but every time he shooed them away, saying 'God will keep me safe'. The floodwaters got worse and worse; the man had just a little roof left. A helicopter came by, but again 'God will keep me safe'. Finally the man was engulfed by the floodwaters and perished. Standing before God, he said 'Why, God, did you not protect me?' And God replied 'What do you mean? I sent news reports to warn you of the danger. I sent good neighbors to help you. I sent Police Officers. I sent Rescue Boats. I even sent a helicopter! What more did you want?!' Indeed, God works in ways no man can fathom. It is the height of hubris for us mortals to think we understand God's intentions and reasoning. The very notions of intentions and reasoning are human constructs; God works outside the world we bipeds can grasp. Anyone who believes the advances in medical treatment are purely due to Man's genius is deluding themselves. Genuine miracles DO happen, possibly more frequently than we know. But the idea that Man alone is responsible for lives saved and bodies healed, is pure arrogance. On the other hand, I offer blanket forgiveness to doctors who do not ascribe to the aforementioned. Why? Because if they believed 'God will protect us' they could not go to the lengths they do to save human lives; it is their very attitude of disbelief that makes them superior practitioners. Like the fighter pilots who swagger; if you were not supremely confident in your ability, you wouldn't even consider doing something so dangerous. God gave them something special, even if they themselves don't believe in God's abilities or even existence. Whew! Didn't mean to hijack; it's just something I think about sometimes. I had the same discussion a few years ago with a Christian Scientist who was having some disturbing-sounding medical symptoms. Fortunately he was fine but the event crystallized my thinking on the subject. Peace Y'all, c.
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